JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #39 - March/April 2008 - 76

SPECIAL JEC COMPOSITES 2008 > Stand H29 Answering the growing demand for high-performance composites, 3B is introducing its new HiPer-tex™ Series. Designed to meet industry demands for high mechanical strength, stiffness and impact resistance, while also offering significantly higher thermal and corrosion resistance properties compared to E-glass reinforcements, the HiPer-tex Series offers specifically designed fibres for wind energy, high pressure vessels, ballistic protection and aerospace markets that combine low cost and high performance. HiPer-tex is a trademark of 3B, a new name and force in fibreglass reinforcement manufacturing. Formed as an independent entity as a consequence of the acquisition by Owens Corning of the Vetrotex reinforcement business, 3B has a rich heritage of expertise in fibreglass development and production. Committed to operating with minimal impact on the environment, www.3B-fibreglass.com 3B’s plants have the lowest CO2 emissions/kg of any fibreglass producer. High-performance glass reinforcements Solplus® D550 for cobalt-cured unsaturated polyester resins Basalt twill fabrics > Stand C15 Dispersing agents are often used in filled unsaturated polyester resins to improve the dispersion of various inorganic pigments and fillers. The additive can ‘wet out’ the filler, lowering viscosity and therefore opening up various options for the manufacturer. Due to the chemical nature of some additives, the better-performing dispersants often have a high impact on the cure schedule when used in ambient-cured polyester resins. Solplus® D550 is a novel dispersant designed to improved the wetting/dispersion of inorganic materials such as CaCO3, ATH & TiO2 in ambient-cured unsaturated polyester. This dispersant differentiates itself from other additives by its vastly improved particle wetting, with minimal effect on the www.solsperse.com curing mechanism. > Stand U38 The basalt twill weave roving developed by Basaltex gives the fabric the right stability and impregnation properties for all types of composite applications. The products are manufactured in a 127 cm wide format. These basalt rovings have very good wetting properties with epoxy, phenolic and polyester resins. Their mechanical properties, far superior to E-glass, could make them a good alternative to S-glass. These basalt twill fabrics are available in 630 g/m2 (BAS 630) and 940 g/m2 (BAS www.basaltex.com 940) grades. New thermoset moulding compounds for HVAC, solar panels and prototyping > Stand V63 A new UL-approved sheet moulding compound has been developed specifically for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market: SMC E5V-204. With superior corrosion resistance, SMC E5V-204 is the ideal replacement for air conditioning drain pans made from galvanized sheet metal that rust during long-term exposure to condensation. The new formulation gives manufacturers a cost-effective, long-lasting alternative to metal for this critical application in the HVAC market. IDI specifically formulated this grade of SMC to meet the unique material demands of air conditioning drain pans. In addition to the corrosion resistance properties of the materials, SMC E5V-204 is also flame resistant and has obtained the UL-94 5V certification, the highest flame resistance designation available. IDI Composites International also developed a new formulation specifically designed for solar panels: BMC 44-10-SP This material is being utilized . in an innovative design for integrated solar roofing tiles: Marley PowerTiles. The solar tiles system is an efficient, cost-effective way to convert residential or commercial tile roofing into an efficient solar power source. IDI’s thermoset moulding compound dramatically improves the strength and durability of key components in the Marley tile system. IDI Composites International has unveiled a full prototyping capability for product development, which makes it possible to demonstrate the use of its materials in specific customer applications, aiding customers in finalizing product specifications prior to high-volume production. This is particularly helpful for customers who use metals or other materials for current part production and are considering a conversion to thermoset moulding compounds. www.idicomposites.com Carbon sewing thread > Stand M 18 In collaboration with the carbon producer Toho Tenax, Schappe Techniques has developed a brand new, very thin 2x1K (67x2 Tex) carbon sewing thread. This yarn is compatible with epoxy and epoxy/PU resins and can be used in numerous composite applications such as prepreg sewing, sewing of dry textile structures (fabrics, UD…), non-crimp multiaxial fabric linkage and the creation of a “z” direction in textile structures. www.schappe.com JEC Composites Magazine / No39 March-April 2008

http://www.3B-fibreglass.com http://www.solsperse.com http://www.basaltex.com http://www.schappe.com http://www.idicomposites.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #39 - March/April 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #39 - March/April 2008